The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-29

stronger than ever before The defeat OF iis
acknowledged champion by means as unholy
as the cause, TO promote which they were
employed. has not retarded the efforts OF
those who believe in it, but instead, quick
enel them TO greater zeal and earnesiness
fine day of a fostering "tariti tax is rapidly
going by. The "lnfant industries '--iniants
al AN nee that make them almost century
plants-must soon stand upon their own feet
or fall, The injustice Of taxing the many
% enrich favored few must soon give way
10 the ,ruer principle Of equal right anu JUS
tice to all men. When we shall reach a
polnt in our history where the people think
with care and earnestness upon public qnes'
tons the problem now in hand Will be
quickly and satisfactorily solved. Taxing a
people rich is an absurdity go great that the
wonder is the people have so long believed
in it Their having done so is but proof that
they have never given the matter serious
thought,
By the way, Jehu Baker, the member elect
from Mr.. Morrison's district, lectured IN
Chicago recently for the benefit OF n s'ruS'
ling church The morning papers note the
fact that but sixty people were present to
hear what Mr.. Baker had to say on "Amerl'
ca 8 Place among the Nations, "A showing
that is very creditable to Chicago's citizen,
MIR. Bakers notoriety gained through the
Iate election is hardly Of such character as
to make him popular with right thinking
people.
The Ottawa Times suggests that Mr. Bolt
wool. who is wri M valuable series
of articles on the ecessity of reforming our
{ riff system, and Mediil who edits the
Chicago Tl,Juns, should get out of the re
publican party because of their ''tree trade
heresies." Mr.. Boltwood doubtless will
He is too honest in his sense Of right to re
main long with a party that teaches and
practices such n system of economics rs that
which Is taught aud practiced by the party
of the Tunes choice. A tariff system which
is so unjust AS to cause the few rich to lay
by greater store and the many poor TO grow
more poverty stricken, is system that can
hardly hope to receive the endorsement Of
man who believes in laws that are at least
approximately equal in their operation. Mr.,
Boltwood views the question which he IS so
ably discussing as purely business one. and
as such is not influenced in the handling OF
ii by any mere party consideration.
As for Mr.. Medil. No thank you, MIR.
Nattinger. The tariff reform people do not
want either him or his paper. His belief in
reform of the tariff is simply theoretic
When there is no near election he Is tariff
reformer through and through. AT such
time he is not unlike the Pharisee in the Sa'
vior's era. He takes very conspicuous
place in the tariff reform synagogue and
make exceedingly long prayers for the
amelioration Of his people, praying for the
a. fishing Of uni Just taxes. but IFS all that he
"may be seen of men, Just let campaign
open and Mr.. Medill, forgetting his tariff
reform prayers, prays longer and louder
for the election OF that prince of protective
robbers, Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Medll may love
the people and really desire their good, but
his affection for the oman from Name is
80 much greater that he willingly proves Il
lack Of honesty in his pronounced belief by
his more pronounced actions.
Mr.. Nattinger. your kindly offer to give
to us Mr.. Medill is appreciated. but the drain
on your generosity is so great that you will
pardon US If we decline the protIered gif
with thanks.
*t*
The indiscriminate pensioning system
which has seized hold Of congress is bring
ing forth some curions applications. Tn,
latest one to attract attention is a bill intro
duced by Representative Lowering Of Massa
chuse,ts to place Walt Whitman upon tn,
rolls at a monthly pension Of twenty hv'
dollars. la introducing the bill the gentle
man from Massachusetts stated that Whitman
had moi made the application, but that i
was at the suggestion of member of tn,
family that he had interested himself. Tn,
ground Of asking the pension is not tina
Whitman is suffering from my ability, TIT
result Of any military service he was hos
pital nurse at Washington and in Virgins
from 1862 to 1869, but because of his liter
AIRY attempts, which, to say the least, hay
not been profitable 1t is true that Whitman
is now very poor and suffering from disease
and a pension on account Of his labors il
northern hospitals might not he out of tn
way, but to grant it to him in recognition o
his poetic talent would be unspeakabl,
absurd.
II may well be doubted whether Wal
Whitman has any great genius as a poe
True, his productions are admired by a Ger
tain school of poets and their followers il